One of my favorite Christmas movies is The Santa Clause from 1994. In the movie, Tim Allen accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof. By putting on the suit at his son’s pleading, this family begins a wild adventure!
In one scene of the movie, Allen’s character, Scott Calvin, is arrested by the police and interrogated. A hilarious exchange follows as Calvin uses many names for Santa from around the world.
Detective: Look, I know you're Scott Calvin. You know you're Scott Calvin. So let's make this simple: I say, name, you say, Scott Calvin. Name?
Calvin: Kriss Kringle.
Detective: Name?
Calvin: Sinterklaas.
Detective: Name!
Calvin: Père Noël. Babbo Natale. Pelz-Nickel... Topo Gigio!
While the world knows the man in the red coat with the big bag full of presents by many names, the true main character of Christmas is known by many more names. Santa's names are the stuff of jokes and playful banter, while the names of Jesus are the source of hope, life, freedom, and justice.
Over 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah told of who Jesus would be. Isaiah used names to identify his work and power. Consider these beloved verses from Isaiah 9:
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
The words “Prince of Peace” seem quite simple, but the meaning represented by these Hebrew words, especially in the context of this larger passage, is quite powerful.
The word for prince used here is the same word used to describe Potiphar, the “prince” or “captain” of Pharaoh's guard, under whom Joseph served in Egypt. Like Potiphar had authority over Pharaoh's guards, Jesus is the chief and ruler over the kingdom of this world. It is because Jesus has this power that He can bring peace.
As one commentator notes, Jesus “ is a Prince who will in Person completely subdue every opposing foe, banish every disturbing element and thus bring peace to His people and to the nations.”
The good news doesn’t stop there, however. As Prince of Peace, Jesus brings peace to those in this world who put their trust in Him. Many translations render Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:14 in such a way that makes it clear that Jesus does much more than merely brings us peace. In the NIV translation of this verse, we read “For he himself is our peace.” Peace is not just a gift Jesus brings at Christmas - peace is who Jesus is every day!
The good news which we celebrate not only at Christmas each year, but in our lives as believers each day, is that Jesus is the supplier and source of our peace. He not only brings us peace - He brings us peace as He gives us Himself.
It is His power as Mighty God, His eternal place on the throne of David, and His role as leader of Heaven’s armies which equips Him to overcome all hostility, injustice, and unfairness in our world.
This name of Jesus is present in a passage that is read nearly every year in churches around the country as followers of Jesus prepare for Christmas. If you’re anything like me, hearing the same words over time can lead to more familiarity and less wonder, more callousness and less celebration.
If that’s been your experience in the past, I want to invite you to try something new this year. Open your favorite Bible website or Bible app to the list of translations. Pick one that you’ve heard of but never really used. The idea here is to hear the same words expressed in a fresh way.
Open to Isaiah 9 and read verses 1 through 7. After you read through these verses, get a piece of blank paper. Fold it in half twice so you have 4 equal size portions. At the top of each heading, write the 4 names mentioned in Isaiah 9:6 - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each portion of the paper should have only one name written in it.
Take 3-5 minutes reflecting and writing what comes to mind as you meditate on that phrase. You don’t need to write full sentences or a paragraph. Instead of writing words, you could also draw pictures. If other verses come to mind, add those references or write them out. Allow your mind to go wherever the Holy Spirit leads it during this time of prayerful reflection and meditation.
After the 15-20 minutes are complete, review what you’ve created. Has your time of reflection given you new insight or appreciation for who Jesus is? Do these familiar phrases have a new depth of meaning and power in your life?
I pray that you are able to experience wonder as you anticipate this Christmas season. I say this because it’s really hard to worship Jesus without wonder.
Patrick Mayberry’s song "Only Jesus" reflects this kind of wonder and awe at who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. He sings:
Familiarity, disappointment, grief, disillusionment, cynicism, pride, busyness, anxiety, fear, shame.
All of these can rob us of wonder and keep us from experiencing God’s peace. I pray that this Christmas you will experience the One who is worthy, the One who is holy - the one and only Jesus. May you not only experience the peace He brings; may you also experience the peace that He is at His essence. May you discover His peace that has no end.
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer who loves to help you laugh, challenge you to think, and invite you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He loves helping hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com.
